The Taste of Night (4 page)

“OH, NO! OH, NO!” DESTINY HELD ONTO ARI AND
pressed her head against his shoulder. Staring at the crude, childish paintings, she led the way into the house.

“This is too weird,” Ari muttered.

Destiny opened her mouth to speak. But a shrill cry interrupted her—and Mikey came leaping off the stairs onto Ari's shoulders. He curled his hands around Ari's throat and screamed, “I'm a MONSTER! I'll kill you! I'll KILL you!”

Ari dropped to the floor under the eight-year-old boy's weight. He sprawled on his back and pried Mikey's fingers from around his neck. “Whoa. Easy, man. Mikey, you're choking me.”

“I'm not Mikey. I'm a
monster
!”

Destiny reached down to help pull Mikey off.

“Hey, what's up?” Ana-Li burst into the room. She let out a cry when she saw the crude creatures smeared over walls. “Ohmigod.”

Destiny pulled Mikey to his feet, then tugged him away from Ari. “Calm down. Don't move. Just take a deep breath, okay?”

Mikey tossed back his head and let out a hoarse, demonic laugh.

Destiny kept a hand on his thick, coppery hair, holding him in place. Mikey was slender and light, small for eight, with arms and legs like sticks. He had dark, serious eyes that looked as if they belonged on an adult. His front teeth were crooked because he refused to wear his retainer.

Groaning, Ari climbed to his feet. Ana-Li couldn't take her eyes off the walls.

“I can't believe you did this,” Destiny said, shaking her head.

“I
told
you I didn't do it. The monster did it,” Mikey insisted, finally back in his normal, high-pitched voice.

Destiny and Ana-Li exchanged glances. Ana-Li knew the problems they'd been having with Mikey. The poor kid had been acting out, severely troubled by the loss of his sister.

He had nightmares that made him scream. He was afraid to stand near an open window. He'd been getting into fights at school. Sometimes he was afraid of the dark. But he kept his room dark as a cave and spent hour after hour
in there with the door locked.

Destiny never knew what to expect. Sometimes Mikey acted like a terrified victim, trembling, crying. And other times, he acted like a monster, striking out, screaming in a rage.

She felt so bad for the little guy…and so totally helpless.

Ari stepped up to the wall and examined the paintings. “I think the monster is in trouble big-time,” he said to Mikey. “How do you think the monster should be punished?”

“His head should be cut off with a machete,” Mikey answered. “And then they should turn him upside down and let all his blood drain out on the floor.”

Ari turned to Destiny. “Big trouble,” he whispered.

“Wasn't anyone here watching Mikey?” Ana-Li asked.

Destiny sighed. She turned to Mikey. “Where is Mrs. Miller? She was supposed to watch you.”

“She had to go home to check something,” Mikey said. “She didn't come back. I guess she got busy.”

“Mikey's the one who got busy,” Ari said, gesturing to the wall.

Mikey let out a roar. His eyes grew wide. “
The monster is coming back
,” he whispered.

“We should get him out in the sunshine for a while,” Ana-Li whispered to Destiny. “You know. Take his mind off this stuff.”

Destiny nodded. “Hey, how about a soccer game?” she
asked Mikey. “You and me against Ari and Ana-Li.”

Mikey reluctantly agreed. Destiny grabbed a soccer ball in the garage and led the way to the backyard, and the four of them started a game.

The Wellers' backyard was deep and wide, covered by a carpet of low grass and interrupted by only a few sycamore and birch trees. Almost perfect for soccer.

The wind had picked up, but the sun blazed high in the sky, making the air warm as summer. Destiny passed the ball to Mikey, and they drove down the field toward Ana-Li and Ari. Mikey brought the ball close to the two slender saplings that formed the goal. Ari made an attempt to block his shot. But Mikey sent the ball flying through the trees.
Goal!

It was obvious to Destiny that her two friends were letting Mikey be a star. But Mikey didn't notice. He jumped up and down cheering for himself.

This was a good idea, Destiny thought. His mood has changed completely. A little sunshine and some physical exercise, and he's acting like a normal kid again.

The game went well for another ten minutes. Destiny loved the intense expression on her brother's face as he moved the ball forward, dodged Ana-Li and Ari and their feeble attempts to block him, and kicked two more goals.

Destiny began to feel hungry. Maybe it was time to stop the game and make lunch. She looked up in time to see Ari give the ball a hard kick that sent it flying toward the trees at the edge of the yard.

Mikey and Ari both took off after the ball. It hit the trunk of an old sycamore tree hard and bounced off. Mikey slid under the tree, chasing the ball.

Destiny heard a cracking sound. She raised her eyes in time to see a high branch of the tree come crashing down.

“Mikey—look out!” she screamed.

MIKEY'S EYES WENT WIDE
.

Destiny heard the crack of branches as the falling limb smashed through them.

Mikey let out a scream, dropped to the ground, and rolled away.

The limb hit the ground a foot or so from Mikey, bounced once, and came to a rest on the grass.

Destiny had her hands pressed to the sides of her face. “Are you okay?” she screamed.

Mikey didn't answer. He jumped to his feet and pointed up to the tree. “Vampire!” he cried. “It's a vampire! In the tree!”

“No, wait—” Ari shouted. He made a grab for Mikey. But Mikey took off, running to the house.

“Mikey, it was just a tree branch,” Destiny called. She chased after her brother and caught him at the kitchen door.

“Let go!” he screamed. “It's a vampire. In the tree! Didn't you see it? Didn't you?”

“No. There's nothing up there,” Destiny insisted, holding him by the arm. “Listen to me—”

But he jerked his arm free and dove into the house. She heard him sobbing loudly as he scrambled up the stairs to his room.

“Mikey, wait. Please—” Destiny darted up the stairs after him.

He slammed the door in her face. She heard the lock click. She could hear him still sobbing on the other side of the door.

Destiny turned and saw Ari and Ana-Li at the bottom of the stairs. They gazed up at her, their faces tight with concern.

She made her way down the stairs slowly, feeling shaky and upset. “I'd better call Dr. Fishman,” she said. “He's Mikey's shrink. He keeps telling us it will just take time. But I've never seen Mikey this bad.”

“The poor guy is scared to death,” Ari said, shaking his head.

“He sees vampires everywhere,” Destiny whispered. “And then sometimes he pretends
he
's a vampire.” She led them into the living room. She motioned to the couches, but no one sat down. They stood tensely near the wall.

“I know the only thing that will help him,” Destiny said. “Bring Livvy back. He knows the truth about her. Maybe it was a mistake to tell him. He's so scared now. If I could just bring her back here—”

“Hey, I'm scared too,” Ana-Li said, hugging herself tightly. She shuddered. “I mean, Livvy and Ross are out there somewhere, right?”

Destiny nodded.

“And they're full vampires now. I mean, real ones. Needy…thirsty.” She shuddered again.

Ari raised his eyes toward the ceiling. “Shhh. Not so loud. We don't need to be talking about this in front of Mikey.”

“But what if they come back here?” Ana-Li whispered. “What if they're out flying around one night, and they're real thirsty? I mean, so thirsty they can't control themselves. And they fly back here and find us? I mean, they could attack us, right? Aren't we obvious victims here?”

“No way,” Destiny replied, shaking her head. “She's still my sister. No way she'd come back here and attack my friends.” She frowned at Ana-Li. “Do you honestly think Livvy would come back here and drink your blood?”

“I…don't know,” Ana-Li replied, her voice cracking. “I really don't.”

Destiny opened her mouth to reply, but a sudden noise above her head made her stop.

A flapping sound. Like a window shade flapping in a strong wind.

Destiny raised her eyes to the sound and saw a darting, black shadow.

“Hey—!” Ari let out a cry, his mouth open in surprise.

The shadow swooped low.

Destiny felt a cold whoosh of air sweep past the back of her neck.

It took her a while to recognize the sound—the flapping of wings.

And then she saw the bat. Eyes glowing, it soared beneath the dark wood ceiling beams. Then low over their heads, flapping up to the mirror, turning and shooting over them to the other wall. Then flying over them again, lower each time, raising its talons as if preparing to attack.

Ana-Li covered her head. Ari ducked. Destiny opened her mouth in a scream of horror.

THE BAT LET OUT A SCREECH AND SOARED UP TO THE
ceiling. Destiny watched it cling to a beam, wings flapping hard. Its glowing eyes locked on Destiny.

“How did it get in?” Ana-Li cried, clinging to Ari's arm. “What's it doing in here?”

Trembling, Destiny stared up at it. “Livvy? Is that you?” she called, but she could only manage a whisper. “Livvy—?”

And then without warning, the creature let go of the wooden beam and came swooping down.

Destiny saw the eyes glow brighter. Saw the creature raise its talons and arch its wings high behind its ratlike head.

She tried to duck away, bumping hard into Ari and Ana-Li, sending them tumbling against the couch.

Then with another whistling shriek, the bat latched onto Destiny. Wings flapping loudly, it dug its talons into
her hair. She heard its ugly cry as she struggled to slap it off.

“
Eeeeeee eeeeeeee!
” Like a car alarm going off in her head.

“No! Get off! Get OFF me!”

The talons dug into her scalp. Sharp, stabbing pain swept through her head.

“NO!”

Her heart pounding, Destiny ducked low again, swung her hand, hit the creature hard. She felt its furry warmth. Felt the breeze from its flapping wings, felt the bat's hot breath prickle the back of her neck.

“Get OFF!”

Another hard slap sent the creature sailing to the floor.

Ari raised his foot to stomp on it.

“No—don't!” Destiny screamed, shoving him back.

The bat recovered quickly. It let out a low buzz, then shot back up into the air. Destiny covered her hair with both arms as it swooped low over her again. Then the creature made a sharp turn and flew into the back hallway.

Holding her head, Destiny lurched after it. “Livvy—?” she called. “Is that you?”

The bat darted out the open kitchen window, leaving the yellow window curtains fluttering behind it.

“Oh, wow.” Destiny sank onto a white bench at the kitchen table. She brushed back her hair, waiting for her heartbeats to slow.

“Are you okay?” Ari put a hand on her shoulder. “Dee, you're shaking.”

“It…attacked me,” she stammered. “Why did it attack me?”

Ana-Li opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. She spun off the top and handed it to Destiny. “Here. Drink something. Try to calm down. You're okay, right?”

Destiny nodded. She took a long drink of the cold water.

Then she turned back to her friends. “Why would a bat fly into the house in the middle of the day? And why did it attack me?”

Ari shrugged. Ana-Li stared back at Destiny without an answer.

Destiny took another drink. “How can we live our whole lives scared to death?” she asked. She pounded a fist on the table, making the ceramic fruit bowl shake. An apple rolled onto the floor. “I have to do something. I have to find Livvy. I have to talk to her…convince her to come back.”

“Maybe she
was
back,” Ana-Li said softly. “Maybe she was that bat. Maybe she came back to warn you.”

“To warn me of what?”

“To stay away from her. To leave her alone.”

Destiny grabbed her friend's arm. “That's crazy, Ana-Li. She's my sister. My twin sister. We belong together. She must know that. Even the way she is now…she must know that I'll do anything to bring her back to us.”

“I have to go,” Ana-Li said, moving quickly to the front door. “I have to get out of here. I mean, out of Dark Springs. It's too terrifying here. Bats and vampires and people dying. I'm so glad I'm going to New Haven in a few weeks.”

She turned at the door. Destiny could see tears in her eyes. “I'm sorry, Dee,” she said in a voice trembling with
emotion. “I didn't mean to sound so cold. I know you've lost your sister. I didn't mean to sound selfish. I just…I…”

She spun away and disappeared out the door.

Ari stepped over to Destiny and wrapped her in a hug. “That was so horrible,” he said softly. “That bat…when it attacked you, I—”

She silenced him with a kiss. The kiss lasted a long time. She wrapped her hands around his neck and held onto him, and they pressed together tightly as they kissed.

“You…you're going away, too,” she whispered, finally pulling her lips away. She pressed her cheek against his. “You're going away too.”

“Not until August. We have five weeks,” he said.

She sighed. They kissed again. She shut her eyes and tried not to think about Ari leaving.

“About tonight,” he said, holding her in his arms. “I know we have dinners with our parents tonight. But we can go out later. It's graduation, Dee. Let's go to that dance club that just opened. You know, Rip. Let's go there tonight, and pretend everything is okay…just for one night.”

His eyes burned into hers. “Okay? Please say yes.”

“Yes,” Destiny agreed in a whisper.

“Hey, all right!” Ari pumped his fists in the air in victory.

Destiny started to kiss him again, but they were interrupted by a shout from upstairs.

Mikey, at the top of the stairs.

“Dee—hurry! Livvy's back! She's back! Hurry!”